Educational talking toy



April 3,'l95l B. $EGAL ETAL 2,547,603

EDUCATIONAL TALKING- TOY Filed Nov. 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BEG/14420 556/44, and 141.4 11 55641..

Maren mas.

April 3, 1951 B. SEGAL El AL EDUCATIONAL TALKING TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1945 N Q shwmamoz 14 4 5524 4/20 SEGAL, and/1L4 IV. SEQ/9L Patenteci Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,547,603 EDUCATIONAL TALKING TOY Bernard Segal, New York, N. Y., and Alan N. Sega], East Montreal, Quebec, Canada; said' Alan N. Segal assignor to said Bernard Segal Application November 26, 194-5, Serial Ne. 630,876

(01. nae-48s.)

1 Claim. 1

The present, invention relates to educational toys. and particularly to the type employing a keyboard.

An object of this invention is to provide a toy of. the character mentioned, of novel and improvedconstruction, adapted for teaching an alphabet, a system of numerals, a series of symbolic designations, bird and animal calls, and similar subject matter.

Another object hereof is to provide a novel and improved, educational device of the nature described, the individual keys of which are operable only oneat a time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved device of the kind set forth, which is easy and fascinating to use, reasonably cheap to manufacture, simple in construction, positive in action and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects-and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a front View of a device embodying the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 isa top view thereof, shown partly in section.

Fig. 3 is an end View of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken at line 4- in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the region substantially within the circle 5 shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawings, in a suitable casing designated generally by the letter it, between successive brackets of thespaced series of brackets h, are positioned the levers 1. These levers f, intermediate theirrespective ends, are each pivctally mounted on an axis rod 2', mounted horizontally through said brackets h. Said levers f, are in tandem relation. Each carries a phonograph needle or other suitable stylus cl, projecting therefrom respectively at their rear ends, which needles d, are respectively in co-operation in individual sound tracks on a record member 0. Each of said levers at their forward ends are pivotally associated with the respective keys or blocks m, by means of the individual pins I. Said keys m, are slidably mounted at th front of the casing 11, for movement vertically, which when downward, is against the action of the respective compression coil springs k. At rest position, the forward ends of levers f and all of the keys m, are upward, while the plurality of needles it he at the bottom ends, which are the starting points of the respective sound tracks on record 0.

Between successive levers f, are a pair of spaced spacer members e anda', to aid in maintaining the position of the needles (2 in engagement in their respectively associated sound tracks on record c, which recordis mounted on a sounding board b of spring metal or other suitable material. Said sounding boardb, is freeexcept where it is secured to the floor of the casingn, and Where it is contacted near the top thereof at its rear by the forwardly urging blade spring a, which serves to maintain proper contact between any needle in motion along its related sound track on record 0. The rear wall of the casing n, is provided with a grilled or screened opening to permit any playing of any of the sound tracks of record 0, to be heard.

The top, and if desired, also the front surfaces of the blocks or'keys m, are marked with designations or carry insignia, as for instance the letters of an alphabet. Insuch instance, the record 0 will have sound tracks adapted when passed over by the needles d, to issue forth the sound of said'letters the respective keys m indicate. In any instance, the sound track played upon pressing down one of the keys m, will bear some relation tothe character carried on the particularv key operated; As a further example, the keys may carry the .respectivenames of the notes of a musical scale, inwhichsembodiment the sound tracks will be of vth respective .musical sounds of. such notes.

The manner of operation'is obvious. from the above description, and therefore needs no further detail.

The embodiment illustrated also includes means to permit but one of. thekeys in-t0 be op erated at a time. For suchpurpose aiseries :of locking pins 9 are provided; one suchlocl-iing. pin 9 .being slidably mounted laterally through each of the brackets h, andextending from saidbracketsinto conical sockets. in th levers jj All said pins 9 are in alignment, parallel and spaced in relation to the axis rod i. Said sockets are in opposite faces of each of the levers f, and are communicative by an opening sufficient to admit a pin 9 therethrough when said pins are shifted laterally of the levers J, meaning along the line of said locking pins.

When none of the keys are being operated, all the locking pins g are in end to end contact within the communicative sockets of the respective levers f; the ends of said pins 9 being shaped as portions of a sphere, to be acted upon cam-like upon downward movement of a key m, by the particular socket walls of the lever f thereby actuated, whereby the pair of successive pins 9 within the sockets of such moved lever i will become separated, thereby causing movement towards one of the side walls of the casing n, of all looking pins 9 to that side of the lever i moved, and movement in the opposite direction of all the other locking pins g, whereby one pin 9 will lie through each of the unmoved levers 1 locking same. It is to be noted that the terminal pins g each house within a socket therein, a compression coil sprin 0, the outward ends of said springs o, resting against the respective side walls of the casing 11.. Dimensions are such, that when all keys m are upward, each of the socketed end pins 9 are spaced from the respective walls of the casing 11., one half the horizontal thickness of a lever ,2; all levers 1 being identical. This permits free movement of but a single lever at any one time, because the possible gap in the series of locking pins g, does not exceed the horizontal thickness of one lever J.

In the illustrated embodiment, all intermediate locking pins 9 are identical, and so are all brackets 71. intermediate the levers 1, identical. The assembled device is symmetrical with respect to the center line between the Side walls of the casing n, when the keys m are in normal rest position. Upon downward movement of a particular key m, the resulting shifting of the locking elements due to the cam action as explained, will distort such symmetry, cause stressing of the springs o, and accomplish the locking of all the other levers f, for a locking pin 9 will be now positioned substantially through each of the other of said levers.

Now, upon release of said particular depressed key 111, the action of the stressed spring is in becoming unstressed, will restore said moved lever f to initial rest position, and in its return movement said lever will permit reentrance of the separated pins 9 into contact with each other within the sockets of said moved lever, whereby the stressed spring 0, will restore initial condition where any of the keys m selected, may be manipulated.

As a matter of design, to permit ample sound track length, and yet require a comparatively short distance for the keys m to travel, axis 1' is much nearer to the forward end of the lever 1, than to their needle ends. It might also be noted that by making the keys m and the sound board I) demountable, they may be replaced by others for the use of the device for the teaching of different subject matter.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment herein be deemed strictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being illustrative and not rea 4 had to the following claims rather than to the particular description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

We claim:

In an article of the character described, in combination with a frame, a plurality of members in tandem arrangement, a plurality of brack- 'ets mounted on the frame; each of said members being positioned between a pair of said brackets and pivotally mounted thereon respectively and free to swing therebetween; each of said brackets being provided with a bore; said bores being in parallel relation, a series of locking pins, one locking pin being slidably positioned in each of said bores; the successive ends of said locking pins being in contact, spring means at each of the remote ends of said series of locking pins; said spring means acting towards each other to maintain the locking pins in contact; each of said members being provided with a cam means adapted upon movement of any of said members to separate and come between a pair of successive locking pins whereby the locking pins are slid within the bores; those locking pins being at one side of a moved member being moved in one direction and those locking pins being at the other side of said moved member being moved in the opposite direction whereby the remaining members are in the path of shifted locking pins and thereby restrained against movement; the distance of possible separation of any pair of successive locking pins being less than is required for any two members to lie between locking pins, a channel mounted on the frame, a plurality of blocks slidably positioned in said channel for movement inwardly and outwardly of the said channel; said blocks being in abutment and the mentioned members being respectively pivotally mounted to said blocks and spring means normally holding said blocks in their position where such blocks are free for inward movement into the channel.

BERNARD SEGAL.

ALAN N. SEGAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,040,705 Leppert Oct. 8, 1912 1,132,092 Hesselins Mar. 16, 1915 1,731,103 Jeffress Oct. 8, 1929 1,746,959 Neely Feb. 11, 1930 1,850,761 Manypenny Mar. 22, 1932 2,497,416 Peckham Feb. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 167,637 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1921 535,023 France Jan. 17, 1922 

